Wednesday, October 10, 2012

".......Under particularly intense negotiation—and media scrutiny—are several key
provisions in the constitution that will define the role of religion in the
state. The constituent assembly is dominated by Islamists, largely from the
Muslim Brotherhood and the main Salafi political party. The Salafis have long
advocated revising Egypt’s constitution to make clear that Sharia law
itself—rather than the “principles” of Sharia, as the constitution has read in
the past—is the main source of all legislation. Facing widespread opposition to
this change, which would allow for a stricter interpretation of Islamic law,
many Salafi members are pushing for an additional provision granting
Al-Azhar—Egypt’s premier Islamic institution—the final say in determining
whether laws conform to the principles of Sharia. This would essentially make it
the final arbiter on legislation, giving Supreme Court style powers to an
unelected, unaccountable religious body. With a small voting bloc in the
constituent assembly, some liberal members have threatened a mass walkout over
provisions they consider non-negotiable if the civil nature of the state is to
be preserved........."